Means for clamping furnaces to torches



Aug. 24, 1943. E. A. STARBUCK MEANS FOR CLAMPING FURNACES TO TORCHES Filed July 31 1941 Patented Aug. 24, 1943 s Parent orri cs MEANS FOR OLAMPING FURNACES T TORCHES Ernest A. Starbuck, Peoria, 111. 7

Application July 31, 1941, Serial No. 404,848

(or reef-239) Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of tools known as tinners and repairmens torches.

More particularly the invention pertains to means for attaching a furnace to the burner tube or nozzle of such torch wherein to heat soldering irons or ladles housed therein.

As is well known, there are many types of torches in use and since produced by different manufacturers they are of many forms and sizes, especially when considering the burner tubes or nozzles thereof. By reason of the many different diameters of burner tubes and the relation-the tubes bear to the other parts of the torches carrying them it has been difficult to attach a furnace thereto by any single form of attaching means. i

Due to the fact that a one piece clamp such as a U type of bolt, for example, is not adaptable at all times for the purpose required where a torch structure is to be considered, a two partclamp is found necessary for engaging the torch part or parts at opposite sides.

This has occasioned the two. part type of clamp about to be described which has been found to be quite universa1 in its application.

That the invention may be fully' understood I have provided the accompanying drawing form ing part hereof wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of part of a torch showing a furnace attachement in section and my form of clamp for connecting said furnace to the burner tube of said torch;

Figure 2 is a plan of the same with parts shown roken away to better reveal structures;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation. of part of the furnace structure and my clamping means produced on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 3 is an elevation of a member as a modification of one of the members: shown in the other figures of the drawing;

Figure 4 is a view similar to. Figure 3 showing a burner tube or nozzle of larger diameter than that in said Figure 3, and

Figure 5 illustrates the under surface of that part of the furnace structure shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Having in view the purpose to be accomplished as stated above, the invention contemplates clamping mgether a burner tube and a furnace by means of two separate and independent wedgelike members, or by bolts suspended from the said furnace and free to swing at one end thereon, one at each side of said burner tube, the free end of each member abutting said tube and also abutting a fixed'part of the furnace and arranged in such manner that when said members or bolts are shifted endwise by tightening them the burner tube will be firmly clamped between them and said furnace as will appear.

In Figure 1 the character I denotes a portion of a torch body for containing liquid fuel surmounting which is any usual form of burnertube 2 together with the customary'needle valve control-portion 3, while in both Figures 1 and 2 any usual furnace structure is illustrated to be clamped to said tube or nozzle 2. In this instance the named structure comprises a lower hollow portion 4 from which projects rearwardly on extension 5 to receive against it the said tube or nozzle, while hinged to the forward partof the portion 4 is a cover portion 6 open at its rear toward said tube, no claim of novelty being attached to the device so far described. Rather, the novelty resides in the means new to be made known.- .That is to sayQdepending from the under' surface of the said extension 5. are two abutments or lugs l spaced from each other to receive between them the named tube or nozzle 2 as shown in thelast four figures of the drawing, said nozzle extendingthrough an opening 4' in'the said lower portion, for example.

In the present instance only, these abutments or lugs are arcuate in form, at least as to channels shown therein considered in lateral section, the form of said abutments being bestshown in Figure 5 viewing thesame from the under side of the said extension 5, the channels of the lugs facing each otheras in Figures 3 and l, and each therefore, facin said nozzle. Spaced holes ii'in the extension 5 lie adjacent thelu'gs and these open into the created channels of said. lugs, it being observed that the channel surfaces of said lugs are'inclined at an angle downwardly and outwardly from the furnace and from each other, as in Figures 3 and 4. Thesurface of the channels at the free ends of the lugs, therefore, lie farther apart than d the surfaces adjacent the portionhaving saidholes 8.

Depending from the extension 5 througheach hole 8 is a threaded member 9 having a head Ill, and at its threaded end being provided with a wingnut H, for example. Quite conveniently a so-called carriage bolt answers the purpos in this instance the head Ill thereof being adapted to abut the named angled surface of the lug, and at the same time engage the tube or nozzle 2. The members 9 may be permitted to drop by loosening the wingnuts H, so that they may be spread widely for entrance between them of a illustrations.

tube or nozzle of practically any diameter, whereupon by drawing the members up the heads I!) will engage said tube eachside thereof, whatever the diameter of said tube may be, two different sizes being shown in Figures 3 and 4 as ployed in order to accommodate the usual rounded or circular heads of the member 3, in the present case bolts, the channels guiding the heads l0, preventing the members swinging laterally.

However the lugs could be otherwise formed for guide purpose while, however, retaining the angular facing surfaces to cause the members to approach each other in raising them during tightening of the wing-nuts, it being understood, of course, that the holes. 8 are large enough to permit free lateral swing of the members there- An advantage in permitting the separatememhers-9 to swing relative to each isthat in some makes of torch the tube or nozzle is quite close to other parts of the torch structure and cast therewith in such a position and so inclosed that a clamp of the ordinary U-bolt type cannot be used whereas the form here dealt with can firmly grip opposite sides of any structure presenting engaging the tube 2 at the junction of the rounded tube and a depending. extension of the latter. However, due to the fact that the bolts are free to'swin'g independently it is clear that should they engage higher up or upon the rounded part of the tube, they would naturally tend to follow .thejcurve thereof outwardly as thawing-nuts are tightened thus forcing them against the type shown in the other figures is adaptable to the majority of torches.

I claim: '1 l 1. The combination with the burner tube of a torch, and a furnace, of. means to clamp the tube and furnace together including dual spaced abutment means fixed relatively to said furnace, the

lying between said tube and an adjacent abutment means, and at its free end adapted to abut each of them, and means to positively shift each of the two bolts causing them to coact and to en- I gage and clamp the tube between them and clamp the latter to said furnace.

2. The combination with the burner tubeof 'a torch, and afurnace to be clamped thereto, of a clamp comprising two separate bolts swingably mounted upon a part of the furnace and depending therefrom in spaced relation to each other for receiving and clamping the burner tube between them, spaced lugs carried by the furnace, the said bolts and the tube lying between said lugs with said tube abutting the furnace, and said lugs having opposed surfaces to receive the said bolts against them, said surfacesbeing inclined .toward each other and toward that'part of the furnace against which said burner tube abuts.

3. The combination with the burner tube or nozzle ofa torch, and a furnace for attachment thereto, the two adapted to abut, of a pair of lugs extendingfrom apart of the-furnace and spaced from each other to receive the said tube between them andspaced from the latter, said lugs each having an inclined surface,the surfaces facing each other and lyingnearest each other at their position closest to the furnace from which they extend, a member suspended at one end from the furnace at each side of l thetube between the same and one'of the said inclined surfaces, each member having a laterally ex tended portion distant from its suspended end,

said portion adapted to engage the said tube, and means to impart movement to each member, to cause both members to approach each other'as they travel along the named inclinedsurfaces for engaging the said tube for and clamping together said burner and said furnace.

4. An article of manufacture consisting of a body having a cavitied portion, said body having an extension provided with a structure at one side thereofih'aving two surfaces facing each other and spaced from each other, said surfaces lying at an angle to the plane of the extension, there being less distance between said surfaces at 'a' position adjacent said extension than at those parts of said surfaces distant from the latter, there being an opening through the'extension adjacent each of the, said surfaces where.

they terminate at such extension, the openings being spaced-apart a distance less than the distance between such surfaces.

5. The combination with'the burner tube or nozzleof a torch, and a furnace adapted to-be clamped with respect thereto, of a pair of spaced abutments extending from said furnacasaid tube lying between said abutments in spaced relation to the same, and 'a wedging member lying at each side of the tube to abut the same and to engage an adjacent abutment, and means for shifting each member to wedge it'between its adjacent abutment and said tube.

ERNEST A. STARE-BUCK, 

